Chapter 19: The Midnight Intruder (2)

A pitch-black night.

Balryong’s eyes flickered open.

“He’s finally asleep.”

Balryong flapped his wings and soared toward Suho’s bed.

From the air, he peered down at Suho’s face.

“Seriously… why?”

Strangely, he couldn’t attack Suho or even harm him. He couldn’t even think of running far away.

“I really don’t get it. Why am I in this state?”

Balryong had seen something similar before.

A spirit to a spirit master.

A pet to its tamer.

The relationship between summoned creatures and summoners was now being applied to him, too.

Some enormous law was suppressing Balryong.

But how could he, a mere spirit, be compared to himself?

“How dare they treat the great Observer, the Judge, the Master of the Abyss, like…”

Just as Balryong was about to explode in rage—

Snap—

Suho’s eyes opened.

A tongue of flame flickered, and something appeared in his hand.

A broom!

Why was he holding such a dangerous object even while sleeping?!

How could a mere human be so sensitive?!

…Instead of yelling, Balryong quickly changed the subject.

“Some guy’s been lurking outside for a while now. It gave me the creeps, so I was about to wake you up.”

“I thought I sensed a weird killing intent… Who the heck is it?”

Suho, too, sensed the disturbance outside.

Balryong sighed in relief on the inside.

At that moment, the intruder pressed close against the outer wall of the building.

“He’s trying to get in.”

“Get in? How?”

“Looks like he’s planning to phase through the wall or something.”

Well, that could happen.

There were all sorts of bizarre skills in this world.

The important thing was the intruder’s intention.

And how to deal with him.

“We should catch him first and ask questions later, right?”

Suho was confident that, if he fought properly, he could win. His instincts told him so.

“I’d rather not fight in the room, though.”

But he couldn’t risk making a mess in the room with the fridge.

He’d have to subdue the intruder as cleanly and perfectly as possible.

But with just his own strength, that would be difficult.

Suho spoke to Balryong.

“Help me subdue him.”

“Me? Why should I?”

“I’ll buy you one chicken.”

“You dare try to command me with a mere chicken?”

The word ‘one’ in his answer—meaning a single chicken—was very specific.

Suho caught on to Balryong’s intentions.

“So it’s not a refusal, but a demand for more, huh?”

But if he gave in from the start, the price would skyrocket.

“No more than one. What, do you think so little of chicken? Are you saying you never want to eat it again?”

“…I never said I wouldn’t eat it again. But I am the mighty black dragon…”

“Enough, he’s coming in. If you don’t like it, just watch.”

With that, Suho dove under the covers.

Balryong gritted his teeth and flew to the corner of the room.

“I’d like to try that seasoned chicken, too. If you get me one fried and one seasoned, I’ll help.”

Balryong had seen Suho and Jeong Hyeonsu eating seasoned chicken at the party.

He’d wanted to try it as well.

Of course, he had no intention of giving up fried chicken, either.

At that moment, the intruder entered the room.

He reached the bed and aimed something tube-like at Suho.

Pfft—

A dart was fired, but it was blocked by the blanket.

After a brief scuffle with the intruder, Suho made a suggestion to Balryong.

“Half and half.”

If this dragged on any longer, the deal would fall through.

Balryong finally gave in.

“Fine. I accept.”

After that, everything happened in a flash.

The intruder was startled by Balryong’s draconic speech, and Suho ambushed him.

Then Balryong headbutted the back of the intruder’s head.

Thud.

The intruder lost consciousness and collapsed.

“No matter how I look at it, he’s not just a regular burglar.”

“Normal thieves don’t walk around with paralyzing poison darts.”

Balryong replied as if it were obvious.

“Yeah, we’ll have to interrogate him. Can’t you do something, like hypnotize him so he confesses everything?”

“I can do anything.”

“Then help me out, Balryong.”

“…No.”

“If you get greedy, you might lose everything you have.”

‘If you keep haggling, you might lose even the half-and-half.’

“That’s not it. I don’t have enough mana. Magic that interferes with another’s mind requires a high level of mana. In my current state, it’s difficult to cast.”

“Huh, so the mighty black flame dragon isn’t as great as I thought.”

“Hey! I can do it. But you have to help first.”

“Help?”

“Break his will until his mental defenses are weak.”

“How?”

“Beat him. Until his mind is about to break.”

Suho grinned confidently.

“That’s something I’m pretty good at.”

Leaving the trembling Balryong behind, Suho rummaged through his desk drawers.

He found a roll of duct tape.

With it, he wrapped the intruder’s body like a silkworm cocoon.

“This should keep him from getting loose easily.”

Even if it took time, he could always subdue him again.

Snap.

Suho slapped the intruder’s cheek.

After a few repetitions, the intruder’s eyes opened.

“Ugh—what, what’s going on?”

Suho asked in a cold voice.

“You won’t get many chances. Think carefully before you answer. Who are you? What were you trying to do to me?”

“You… You just awakened a few days ago—how are you moving so fast? And what was that voice I just heard from behind you?”

The intruder didn’t seem in the right mind to answer.

Smack!

Suho slapped him again and asked.

“This is your last chance. What were you trying to do to me?”

“You bastard, listen up, if you untie me now, I’ll let this slide. If not, you’ll regret it. Do you know who’s behind me?”

Suho glared coldly at the intruder.

“Your chance is over.”

Then he slapped duct tape over the intruder’s mouth and pulled a [Supply-Model Strong Iron Spear] from the Dimensional Bag.

“Mmph—mmph—”

The intruder mumbled something, but Suho ignored him.

“This grip feels good.”

As expected of a dwarf-made weapon.

Suho gripped the spear in reverse.

Then swung it with all his might.

“Mmph—ah—”

“The impact feels great. I should ask them to make me a club sometime.”

Suho muttered as he continued the beating.

Whack—

Without mercy.

Whack—

All over, with no regard for where.

How much time passed like that?

“That’s enough. Stop!”

“Huh? Already?”

“He’s been crying for a while now. That’s enough.”

“He seemed pretty high level, but he’s weaker than I thought.”

Maybe he’d confess if he just asked?

Suho shook his head.

No need to take chances when there’s a sure way.

Soon, Balryong cast his spell.

The intruder’s eyes went hazy.

“It’s done. Ask quickly if you need anything. Mana keeps draining.”

Suho nodded and peeled off the duct tape from the intruder’s mouth.

“Name?”

“Kim Sung-guk.”

“Why did you break into my house?”

“Park Dongsik ordered me to kidnap you.”

“Park Dongsik? The Yeongil Guild’s Park Dongsik?”

“That’s right.”

“What the hell is wrong with that lunatic?!”

Suho was dumbfounded.

Park Dongsik, out of nowhere.

“So what were you planning to do after kidnapping me?”

“We were going to torment you and kill you in the Guild’s dungeon.”

“Kill me?”

“Yes. That’s what those dungeons are for. No evidence is left behind, and the body can be disposed of cleanly.”

Suho asked again in disbelief, and Kim Sung-guk went on to explain the dungeon in detail.

Suho’s expression darkened.

“These guys are absolute lunatics.”

Yeongil Guild.

He’d heard they were scum, but they were even worse than he thought.

“Where’s the dungeon?”

“Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi Province…”

“How many people are there?”

“Park Dongsik and his lackey Go Minho are waiting.”

“Who else knows about this?”

“Park Dongsik, Go Minho, and me. That’s all.”

Suho continued to ask about the dungeon and Yeongil Guild’s situation.

Kim Sung-guk answered sincerely, without missing a detail.

About five minutes passed.

“I’m almost out of mana.”

“That’s enough. Finish it.”

Suho said to Balryong.

But at that moment—

Crunch—!

Balryong snapped Kim Sung-guk’s neck.

“Was that necessary?”

“…”

“Why did you kill him?”

“Dispelling the spell also costs mana, so I saved some by taking care of him. Why, is that a problem? You weren’t planning to keep him alive after making him spill everything, were you? I can’t understand that.”

Suho looked down at Kim Sung-guk’s corpse, lost in thought.

“Yeah. There was no way I could let him live anyway.”

The moment he let him go, he’d be out for revenge.

Kim Sung-guk wasn’t acting alone—he was a member of the Yeongil Guild.

And he’d just exposed the guild leader’s son, Park Dongsik.

“I’d have been targeted for sure.”

In a way, Balryong had done what Suho would have had to do himself.

‘Killing, huh… Is it something you have to do if you don’t want to die?’

He wasn’t about to sit and take it.

He certainly wasn’t going to be victimized for no reason.

So there was only one thing to do.

‘Steel your heart.’

Suho steeled his resolve.

To stain his hands with the blood of his enemies.

***

Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi Province outskirts, Yeongil Guild’s private dungeon.

This place had a unique structure even among cave-type dungeons.

Beyond a long corridor, the Boss Room was isolated at the end.

Thanks to that, as long as you cleared out the regular monsters near the entrance, you could use the area as a break room.

Sofas, tables, and other furniture for resting were set up there.

Two men were conversing.

“Kyungsoo hyung, I’m counting on you.”

“Just trust me, Dongsik. You know what my nickname is? The Toe Killer.”

“The Toe Killer?”

“Yeah, kid. I freeze toes with ice magic. Then I snap them off one by one right in front of the guy. Just three toes, and they’ll be bawling, begging for mercy.”

“Oh—amazing as always, Kyungsoo hyung! I’m counting on you.”

Park Dongsik.

And Jo Kyungsoo, a Level 36 Hunter of the Yeongil Guild.

“I just got a new item, too. I’m planning to try it out on that guy.”

“A new item?”

“Yeah, this. An attribute amplification staff. It boosts attribute attack power by 10%. I splurged on it this time.”

“You’ll be popping toes off even faster now, haha.”

“I haven’t even started yet, and I’m already getting ready for some toe-popping. By the way, Dongsik—”

“Yes, hyung?”

“Does the Guildmaster know about this?”

“Of course not. Only you and Go Minho outside know.”

Even the ruthless Guildmaster was soft on his son.

Holding onto one of Park Dongsik’s secrets would be useful for guild life down the line.

Jo Kyungsoo grinned slyly.

“Good job. Only people you trust should know about things like this.”

“Oh, right. Sung-guk hyung, who went to grab the target, knows too.”

“Sung-guk? That guy can’t fight for crap, but he’s good at kidnapping.”

Someone like Kim Sung-guk could be taken care of any time.

Jo Kyungsoo thought to himself.

“That’s why I asked him to handle the kidnapping. And you’re way better at roughing people up, hyung, so I left that to you.”

“Heh, of course. By the way, that bastard Sung-guk got on my nerves and I beat him up last time. He’s been avoiding me ever since—he’ll be shocked when he sees me.”

“Really? I didn’t tell Sung-guk hyung you’d be here, so that’s good.”

“Yeah. But shouldn’t he be here by now? Why’s he so late?”

‘He’ll be here soon. I got good booze for you, so relax and have a drink while we wait.’

“Alright. You’re the only one I can count on, Dongsik.”

***

Suho arrived in Pyeongtaek-si by taxi.

He got out far away and walked toward the dungeon.

“There really isn’t anything around here.”

“Just like that guy said, they made sure to pick a deserted spot.”

No buildings, no roads.

At least he didn’t have to worry about being seen, like in a spy movie.

“If you kill the guy who ordered the kidnapping, it’ll all be over cleanly.”

“That’d be nice, but…”

Suho steeled his resolve once more.

Soon, he saw the dungeon.

A faint shimmering light.

Just as he’d heard, it was a First-Rank Dungeon.

“Someone’s standing in front of the dungeon.”

“That’s the lackey.”

He could only see the silhouette, but Suho recognized who it was.

Park Dongsik’s underling, Go Minho.

“What’s your plan?”

“I’ll take him out quietly and go in.”

Suho circled around from the side and approached Go Minho.

Go Minho didn’t notice him at all.

“Damn, why isn’t he here yet? My legs are killing me. We just grab the guy, kill him quick, and get it over with. Seriously, how long does it take to take care of one idiot?”

Grumbling.

Go Minho’s voice carried over.

Suho felt a bit lighter inside.

“You guys tried to kill me first.”

Suho pressed his foot to the ground.

He pulled out the [Fire Thorn Magic Sword] from the Dimensional Bag and stabbed it into Go Minho’s back.

Crack—!

Thud—

Go Minho died instantly.

Suho stuffed the corpse into the Dimensional Bag.

“This feels disgusting.”

His hands trembled.

Even though he’d steeled himself, the first kill was never pleasant.

At that moment, Balryong asked Suho a question.

“Can chicken be delivered anytime?”

Out of nowhere.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“When can I get the promised chicken?”

“You crazy—tomorrow! When the chicken shop opens!”

“I want my tribute as soon as possible.”

“Sigh… I don’t even have the energy to worry.”

Talking with Balryong, Suho felt a bit ridiculous for agonizing so much.

Thanks to that, some of the filthiness of killing faded away.

“Let’s go. If we finish this right, I’ll order a big cola too.”

“You mean that drink with the color of the abyss?”

“Yeah.”

“Heh, my abyssal foresight tells me things will be resolved perfectly.”

With a sigh, Suho dashed into the dungeon.